Occupy Wall Street: 10 Halloween Costumes of the Movement

Halloween is one of the few opportunities we have throughout the year to dress as something else, something that we may never be, something that we may never WANT to be, with impunity and without obligation. And while some blogs are telling us that the costume of the year will be Charlie Sheen or Rick Perry or Michele Bachmann or Sesame Street porn -- and while we were thinking something more along the lines of Lindsay Lohan's teeth, or the poor victimized hot dog thrown at Tiger Woods -- it's clear that what we're all talking about the most these days is Occupy Wall Street. And, so, when we talk about Halloween costumes, how could we possibly exclude it? While the movement got going a little too late in the year for cheap plastic versions to be sold in Ricky's and Duane Reade, we have suggestions that you can easily accomplish at home with a little innovation and some tenacity. After all, that's what the 99% is made of.

10. Occupy ___________. This is your "riff" costume that indicates you keep up with the news but are creative, too. Occupy your town, occupy a party, occupy the streets, occupy Halloween. Occupy your Halloween costume, by which we mean, wear it. And then go do something in it. There are no rules with this one, but somewhere around the 10th time you utter the words "Occupy," you'll look around and see that your friends have all left you and you're standing alone in front of a very creepy house and, well, who knows what will happen. Occupy yourself! This is what Halloween is about.

9. Anthony Bologna. Following the pepper-sprayed shot heard 'round the world, it was revealed that the man behind the spray was NYPD Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna. You'll need a white, collared, short-sleeved shirt, a mean expression, sunglasses, a badge (don't go impersonating a police officer, now), a quick trigger thumb, and other police accoutrement, depending on how realistic you want to be. Alternatively, you could be a slightly less demonized member of the force, put on a blue shirt, and go around saying, "My little nightstick's gonna get a workout tonight." Add a gleeful laugh, and you're in.

8. The Pepper Spray. Anyone can be a protester, and you can expect to see a lot of them on the streets the night of October 31. It's an easy costume, should you want to embody the stereotype: ripped jeans, T-shirt, protest sign, perhaps a bandana or a Guy Fawkes mask. For creativity, add a pet squirrel to your shoulder, or perhaps you're musically inclined? Tote along some bongos! Or, be something special. Be the pepper spray itself, the instrument that really incited the first sympathies, anger, and major mainstream media attention for the movement when on September 24 it was used on a group of netted-off women by #10, Anthony Bologna. Make it a group outing and bring him along, too (make him carry you), and your lawyer! The more, the merrier.

7. The 1 percent. There are many ways this can be indicated. Have all of your teeth replaced with pure gold. Encrust your body in Swarovki crystals -- nay, real diamonds! Hang a sign on yourself that says "We are the 1%." Or just wear a business suit and carry a briefcase and shout things about smelly hippies. For more empathy despite your bazillion dollars, go as a sad trader (inspiration here). But the best idea we've seen so far to reflect the 1 percent is to dress in a giant cardboard box made to look like a milk carton. Lots of room underneath that for storing candy, we hear. Alternatively, be a literal fat cat on Wall Street. Harder to pull off, but if you can get the costume rented in time, you'll be the talk of the 99 percent. OF FURRIES.